Synchronizing mechanism for clocks



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. KRONENBBRG.

SYNGHRONIZING MBGHANISM POB CLOCKS. No. 393,159. Patented Nov, 20, 1888.

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vmlll I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. KRONENBIERG.

Y SYNGHRONIZING MEGHANISM FOR GLOGKS. No. 393,159.

Patented NOV. 20, 1888..

wif/masses NA PETERS4 Phnko-Uliwgmplun'wnhnpm UIQ (No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

KRONENBERG.

SYNGHRONIZING MEGHANISM POR CLOCKS.

o. 893,159. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT EDVA'RD KRONENBERG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANlSr/l FR CLGCKS.

SPCFCATN forming pari; of Letters Patent No. 393,159, dated November 20,1888.

Application filed Septcinhcr22,1887. Serial No. 250,380, (No model.)

To all 107mm/ it may concern.:

.Beit known that I, EDWARD KRONENEERG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Synchronizing Apparatus for Clocks, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in synchronizing apparatus for clocks; and to this end it consists, iirst, in mechanism for automatically closing an electric circuit running from the standard or regulating clock or clocks to the clock or clocks to be synchronized for a short time prior tothe synchronizing hour and leaving it closed until the clock or clocks is or are synchronized.

lt consists, second, in a novel construction of apparatus for advancing or retracting the hands of the clock at the synchronizing hour, and in means, in connection therewith,for automatically breaking the circuit after the clock has been synchronized, thus utilizing the battery for a few minutes only before and after the synchronizing hour, and freeing the circuit from dangers due to lightning on the circuit. lt will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a front elevation of an ordinary pendulum-clock with my synchronizing apparatus attached thereto, and the dial shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents avertieal section taken through Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a' vertical section taken on line rv x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 representsasimilarsection through the same iigure on line .e e.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

In existing circuits for synchronizing clocks by electricity the circuit is carried from the standard clock directly to and through the clocks to be` synchronized, and it often occurs that lightning enters the electrical mechanism, destroys the magnets, and otherwise injures the clocks. My invention avoids this objection.

Referring to the drawings, A is the clock dial shown, as of glass, so that the works can be seen through it.

B B is the supporting-frame for the clock mechanism, of usual construction, which need not be described here.

H is the minute-hand, H the hour-hand, and H2 the secondshand,all sleeved, as usual, on their shafts, so as to have a light frictional bearing,which causes them to rotate with their respective shafts. To the minute-hand shaft is affixed a disk, D, having one side fiat, as shown, and provided with arms a I), (see Fig. 3,) While the secoudshand shaft is provided with a similar disk, D. (See Figs. l and 2.)

F is a synchronizingrod having vertical sliding bearings in the brackets (t G, aiiixed to the back B of the clock-frame, and provided with a curvilinear head, H3, at its upper end, which bears againsta lever, L, carrying an armature, A', for the synchronizing electromagnet E in the main circuit w w. This rod also carries a detachable presser-foot, Kvhich bears, by reason of the weight of the rod, constantly upon the synchronizingdisk i). lhe synchronizing-rod has in its upper end an elongated slot, Z Z, adapting it to slide vertically over the shafts Il and 2 and bear with its presser-foot K ou the disk D in a direct vertical line.

F, Figs. i and 2, is au additional synchronizing-rod sliding vertiealiyin brackets Gi and (t3 and having a presser foot and head similar to those ofthe minute-hand synch ionizing-rod `just described, the head bearing against the lower side ol" a lever, L, attached to the pivoted shaft, which supports the armature-lever L in the front and back parts of the frame, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

N is a cani-arm allivcd to the ininute-hand shaft and adapted to revolve with it, and at one point of its revolution to bear against the long arm of the lever C), pivoted at p to the frame B, the short arm of which in turn acts against the short arln of a second lever, N, carrying a weight, XV, (see Figs. 3 and 1,) and an extensioirarm, Y, the latter for operating the pivoted Weighted circuitclesin g arm X, as shown in dott-ed lines in Fig. 3.

3 and e are binding-posts, which hold the electric wires or conductors, one of which comes from the standard clock through the magnet E to post 3 and carries the current thence through the circuit-closing springs and arm X to binding-post 4i, and finally to the OCI IOO

next clock in the series, if more than one clock is to be synchronized.

On the pivoted arm supporting the armature-lever L is a fixed arm, T, Fig. 3, for throwing oif the circuit-closing lever X and breaking the circuit after the clock has been synchronized.

'L' is a retractile spring for the armature-lever L, and t is a similar spring for the secondshand synchronizing-rod F.

I will now describe the operation of my iinproved apparatus. A battery (not shown) located at the standard clock, or Wherever desired in the circuit, is connected through a circuit-closer at said standard clock of any wellknown form, adapted to be closed automatically at the synchronizing-hour, or by a key manipulated by an operator at or near said clock, if desired. The clocks are all started in synchronism--say at noon-and run approximately together, some losing and others gaining a minute or two in the course of twelve hours. When the synchronizinghour arrives at twelve oclock, sorne of the hour-hands are in advance and sonie in the rear of correct time, and the disk D in each clock is either in the position shown in Fig. 3 or in reverse position, dependent upon whether the clock is slow or fast. For similar reasons the disk D', Fig. 1, is similarly located. As the minutehands of the respective clocks advance, the cams N cause the levers O and N to tilt the weighted levers X, and thus close the circuit between posts 3 and 4in the several clocks, and, finally, when all are closed and the synchronizing or standard clock closes the circuit at the central station, the magnets E at the several clocks are actuated, and the armatures A-, and hence their levers L, are drawn down, thus forcing the synchronizing-bars F down, and causing the flat-sided disks D to tilt to the right or to the left,according to whether the clocks are slow or fast, as will be understood by inspecting Fig. 3 of thedrawings. Vhen the armature-lever L is drawn down, the fixed lever T on the shaft of lever L strikes the weighted lever X and causes it to be tilted, so as to break the circuit between the posts3 and 4. Similarly the circuit is broken in all of the clocks. The

act of synchronizing the minute-hand is accompanied bya synchronizingaction to the secondshand through the agency of lever L', synchronizing-rods F', and disks D', in a manner entirely like that just described with relation to the minute-hand. The weights W and w serve to withdraw the levers N and X, after they have been released by the cams N and armature-lever L, to place them in position for synchronizing again when the next synchronizing hour arrives.

It is obvious that the clock or clocks to be synchronized may be synchronized at every hour, if desired, such a feature being entirely under the control of the standard clock,when the circuit may be closed once each hour, if found necessary. In fact I prefer to synchronize every hour.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a synchronizing apparatus for clocks, of a synchronizing-disk on the minute-hand, a synchronizing-rod bearing on said disk, an electro-magnet having an armature-lever bearing on said rod, a circuitcloser for closing an electric circuit from a synchronizing-clock through said magnet, and a series of levers operating in conjunction with a cam-arm on the minute-hand shaft to control said circuit-closer, whereby the clock is synchronized, substantially as described.

2. In a synchronizing apparatus for a clock, the combination of a minute-hand arbor and a seconds-hand arbor, with disks having {iattened sides and arms,vertical sliding synchronizing-rods, one having an elongated slot, an electric circuit with battery and electro-magnet, a lever with armature operated by said magnet and provided with a retractile spring,

a second lever on the saine shaft as the arma- I 

